A YOUNG man who travelled the world and “lived his life to the full” following the deaths of three of his school friends has been killed in a road incident.

Oliver Farrell is the fourth from the same school year at Ecclesbourne School, Duffield, to die in tragic circumstances, after the traffic incident in London.

But his brother, Ben, said the deaths of Will Sheppard in 2003, Tom Fletcher in 2004 and Tom Donaldson in 2009 had meant Oli “packed so much” into 27 years – and inspired Oli into fund-raising in their memory.

He also said his brother was devoted to his friends and family and, despite travelling to more than 30 countries, would always have a “diary full of fun activities” planned when he came home.

Ben, 30, said: “It’s honestly so hard to believe all the things Oli’s done in his life – because he’s just done so much.

“When we were in the hospital, we were trying to do a list of how many countries he’d visited in his life and we think it was about 36.

“He wanted to travel after he left university and he would work so hard to raise money so he could do that. When he came back, he would save up all over again.

“But, while he might have gone around the world, the first thing he would do when he came back was visit his family and friends and have fun with them – he was just so loyal.”

In 2004, Oli and his friends decided to run the London Marathon for the Meningitis Trust in memory of Will – who died the year before from the condition.

And close friend James Delve, who was also in the same school year at Ecclesbourne, said Oli was in constant contact with the families of Tom Fletcher – who was killed in a car crash in Duffield in 2004 – and Tom Donaldson – killed in a sand-boarding accident in New Zealand in 2009.

James, 28, of Mickleover, said: “Oli had so many friends and was never just one to sit at home – he’s always been like it.

“But especially so as he bounced back from the deaths of our friends. He said he wanted to live every day like something might happen to him and it meant he did something every night with his family and friends.”

Oli, who grew up in Hazelwood, near Duffield, attended the Old Vicarage School, in Darley Abbey, and Ecclesbourne School, before graduating from Sheffield Hallam University in 2007 with a business studies degree.

He went travelling during the next few years and, for brief periods, lived in Australia, Canada and Argentina.

Ben, who lives in Islington, London, said: “If Oli had a favourite, it would probably be Sydney and I think he would have gone back there.

“When he went to Canada, he had saved up for a skiing holiday and he chose to go to Whistler when the Winter Olympic Games were there in 2010.

“It was when he came back from South America in 2011 he decided to live and work in Islington, where I was.”

Oli was working as a recruitment consultant for firm Jam recruitment when he died.

A spokesman for the firm said: "Oli was a consummate professional, a friend to everyone and one of the rising stars of the company. A caring, supportive, committed and fun guy, he will be sorely missed."

Ben said he was also talented at sports and a Manchester United fan.

He said: “I’ve spoken to Oli’s boss since he died and he was telling me how well he got on with his workmates, how popular he was and what a fun guy they thought he was.

“He also said Oli was the most successful trainee he’d ever had and had won rookie of the year across the whole business. He worked hard and played hard and that’s why we received tributes to him from all over the world. He was something else.”

James said: “I feel so lucky to have grown up with him – he was one of the greatest guys I’ve ever known.”

Oli was a pedestrian in Essex Road, Islington, when he was involved in an incident with a car on Sunday. He died more than 48 hours later.

A 57-year-old man arrested in connection with the incident has been bailed pending further inquiries.

5 comments

One of the only days I decide to read the telegraph online, I see a face and a name that I remember, back when I was an apprentice, he worked as a temp at my old office, such a lovely guy, such a shame to find him in the news, R.I.P, you were a top bloke xxxxxxxx

Mr Bronson - You think by the age of 27 its common for four members of the same school year and friendship group to have passed away!?! Seriously? They make a point of what school he went to because thats a key part of the article, that they all went to the same school, so why wouldnt they say what school it was? What an unbelievably pointless and moronic comment.
RIP Oli mate, things just wont be the same without you.